Joining procedure for French Airfields

[Romeo Romeo]

I flying to Granville next weekend (weather permitting!). I've got all the details of the airfield, but I'm not sure what the correct joining procedure at uncontrolled French airfields is. They have parachuting there so I'd imagine an overhead join would be frowned on. How should I join the circuit?

[welkyboy]

Normal joining procedure at Granville is overhead for circuit. But you must speak french on 118.1 giving your position and intentions. Remember to close your flight plan with Brest/nantes on arrival phone number +33298373436 or +33810437837
Also you must fax the Douanes with details if arriving direct from UK as they do spot checks in their Alouette and fine transgressors on the spot. This has happened several times at Granville and there are a few UK pilots that return home much lighter in the pocket.
If not got permission, go to Dinard or Cherbourg to clear customs both in and out. You need to clear customs both in and out even if routing to/from Channel Isles.

[Fly Stimulator]

Some links which might be useful -

General guidance:
http://flyinfrance.free.fr/


Language help for flying in France:
http://www.webvivant.com/aero-andaines/french.html


Airfield information, area charts and a host of other useful things:
http://www.nav2000.com/


And there is now a number for closing flight plans in France which covers the whole country - 0810 437 837 .

[skydriller]

A standard overhead join for a french aerodrome is to fly overhead the aerodrome at 500 ft above circuit height ( ie 1500ft approx in this case) and then join downwind at circuit height...

Hope this helps,

Regards, SD..

[Romeo Romeo]

Thnaks for the info everyone.

So is a standard overhead join like ours, with decending on the dead side or do you go over at 500ft above circuit height and decend on a sort of mid-field crosswind before joining the downwind?

Does anyone have the fax number for customs? I have their phone number, but I think I'd prefer to fax!

[Flying Boat]

RR

Couldn't find the fax for customs only tel no. Try this for useful Granville info: http://www.nav2000.com/pf/detail.asp?session=876858522&oaci=LFRF

Got it from the www.nav2000.com (http://www.nav2000.com) site, very useful for all over Europe. In French but useful for you to practise. A very useful site.

Useful French aviation language is here:
http://www.webvivant.com/aero-andaines/vocab-radio.html

& here

http://www.webvivant.com/aero-andaines/vocab.html

Have a good trip.

FB

[Fly Stimulator]

Is there an echo in here? ;)

[Aussie Andy]

Hello... Hello... Hello... Hello...

[Flying Boat]

OK but on the 5th Lowenbrau when posted. Sorry but not keen on English beer.

St Georges day.

That's my excuse & sticking to it.

:\

[capt_sparky]

There are two methods of joining the circuit at an uncontrolled French airfield. As noted above, both start at 500 feet above the circuit height, i.e., normally at 1,500 feet AAL.

The first method involves turning overhead the active runway onto the runway QDM and descending to circuit height well beyond the normal position for the crosswind leg.

The second method is to fly over the airfield and fly for one minute beyond the position of the downwind leg to make a descending turn back to join the start of the downwind leg (on roughly a 45 degree angle).

Capt Sparky